WOKC Local News – January 13, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. County may stay in house with WOKC News. I’m Charles Murphy. We learned yesterday that the county administrator is retiring, Debra Manzo, plans to leave the county employed by July 3rd. She does plan to stick around and be an advisor through 2026 and be in the office until about April 1st. It’s been my honor to serve Okeechobee County since June of 2021. During this time, I have had the privilege of working alongside each of you, dedicated staff, other elected leaders, community partners, and residents who share a deep commitment to the community. The county supports sticking with the staff they have and maybe promoting one of the assistant county administrators. Mike Sumner says he knows the staff and likes them. A lot to take on in a very short period of time. The staff that we have is losing a heck of a commander, but we’ve still got good, good people. If there’s any way we can do this in-house, I’m all for it. An alleged drug trafficker went out to face charges. Charges were dropped against Larry Adams for a May 3rd of 2023 traffic stop, which netted 4.6 grams of fentanyl and four grams of crack. A passenger, David Garrett, admitted to having $450 paid to him to deliver narcotics from West Palm Beach. He was adjudicated of possession of narcotics. He received 10 months in the county jail. Okeechobee County trying to secure a humanities grant to bring a Native American exhibit to Okeechobee next year. Maggie Cable, head of the historic society, says it would fit with local history. I’ve requested one of the dates is going to be like February to April because it would coincide with the battlefield, which is another hat I wear. So I figured I could have a three in one. The exhibit could be at the courthouse between February and April if the humanities grant is approved. An Okeechobee man gets five years in prison for shooting his girlfriend in the head. It happens in Sebring. 26-year-old Melvin Brown will serve 10 years on probation. He had no prior record. Sebring police say Brown grabbed a gun and shot Glenda Hutchinson, but she moved just in time. He aimed towards her head, but the bullet just grazed the back of her head. Brown claims somebody else did it. He was originally charged with attempted murder and the first degree. Florida trying to rebuild its domestic violence programs. The former CEO of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Tiffany Carr, was recently sentenced to 10 years probation and paying back some $260,000. She also will testify against the former chief financial officer of the organization. It’s alleged that $3.7 million was misappropriated. The issue of domestic violence appears to be getting worse. John Long told a Senate committee that abusers don’t want to let go. Victims are 11 times more likely, he says, to be murdered. That’s typically the first step of getting out of the relationship. And at that point, the abuser typically will say, well, this person has found a way out and I can’t let them get out. The state reported a 140% increase in domestic violence involving Spanish speakers in recent years. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).